Grain-cradle.



H. B. HEWITT.

GRAIN CRADLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1911.

Patented June 4, 1912.

7VINVENTOR I W] T NESSES 0., WASHINGTON. n. c. l

IINI

FINE.

HORACE B. HEWITT, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 TIE-IE NORTH INDIANAPOLIS CRADLE WORKS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPO- RATION OF INDIANA.

GRAIN-CRADLE.

oaaars.

Application filed November 24, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE B. IIEWrrr,

a citizen of, the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Cradles, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in certain improvements in the details of construction and form of parts of grain cradles, of the type and same general character as the cradle in Patent No. 724,182, dated March 31, 1903, whereby a cradle of such type is provided which can be swung through the grain not only with less resistance, but also one which will separate the stalks of grain and open a path through them without knocking over such stalks, and beating the grain out of their heads, thereby enabling the cradle to be used with less exertion and also with less waste of the grain, all as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a grain cradle of the type in question embodying my said improvements, Figs. 2, 3 and d are detail views illustrating different parts more clearly on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 5 a detail view showing a modification.

The snathe 10, scythe 11, and cradle head, comprising a rear standard 12 fingers 13 intermediate standard 14: and braces 15 and 16, are all of substantially the same form and arrangement as shown in the patent above referred to and therefore require no special description. The front standard 17, however, is formed angular in cross-section with a sharp forward edge, and with its front face concaved, or curved substantially on a line with the curve of the point of the scythe 11 and fingers 13. The rear face of said standard is convex, or also somewhat curved in cross-section, to better serve as a stalk separator and furnish the least resistance to the sweep of the cradle through the grain. The ends of the fingers 13 are set into appropriately formed recesses, or perforations, in the rear edge of said standard 17 preferably as indicated in Fig. 2, with their front edges flush with the front face of said standard and secured by staples, wires, or other appropriate securing devices,

18. It will be understood of course that other forms of attachment, as for example that shown in Fig. 5, may be used if preferred.

The, top finger 13 is connected with the standard 17 by means of an angle ferrule 19, the vertical socket of said ferrule being formed to correspond to the form of said standard 17, the upper end of which it is designed to receive. Another angle ferrule 20 is mounted on the lower end of said standard 17 and formed with a hook shaped lower end 21 for connection with the scythe, as is usual. Its vertical portion is formed to receive the lower end of standard 17 and with a sharp forward corner to correspond thereto. Its horizontal socket receives the end of lower finger 13, as shown. By the use of this form of front standard 17, and said form of ferrules at its upper and lower ends, a cradle is provided which presents a sharp front edge to the stalks of grain throughout its entire width, corresponding in form substantially to the form of the point of the scythe with which it cooperates in separating the stalks of grain during the sweep of the cradle in use. By reason thereof the cradle can be used with less exertion and the knocking down of stalks of grain and the beating out and the wasting of grain from the heads of said stalks, which is a common fault of the usual .construction of cradle, it is thereby avoided.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A grain cradle comprising a snathe, a scythe, and a cradle-head having supporting standards and fingers extending at an appropriate angle to said snathe, the front end of said fingers being each joined to a supporting front standard formed with its front edge tapered to a point and its front and rear faces curved in a direction corresponding to the point of the scythe, substantially as set forth.

2. A grain cradle comprising a front standard formed with its forward edge tapered to a sharp angle, and its front and rear faces curved in a direction to substantially correspond with the curvature of the point of the scythe, substantially as set forth.

3. A grain cradle comprising a front standard which is tapered to a sharp forward edge, the fingers of the cradle being secured to said standard flush with its front face, substantially as set forth.

4. A grain cradle comprising a front standard formed angular in cross section with a sharp corner toward the front and a number of fingers suitably supported from i the scythe snathe in the rear and connected at their front ends to said front standard, substantially as set forth.

5. A grain cradle comprising a snathe, a scythe, and a cradle-head supported from said snathe having a front standard with a sharp front edge, the outer fingers of said cradle-head being each connected to the front standard by means of an angle ferrule one socket of which is formed to receive and correspond with the shape of said standard, substantially as set forth. I

6. A grain cradle comprising a front standard formed angular in cross section with a sharp edge extending forward, the fingers of the cradle connected therewith, an

angle ferrule at the upper corner having a socket to receive the upper end of said standard and formed angular to correspond to the shape thereof in cross wction, and a ferrule at the lower corner formed to receive the lower end of said standard and also of corresponding shape and provided with means for engagement with the scythe, substantially as setforth.

7. A grain cradle comprising a front standard formed with a sharp forward edge, and fingers at the top and bottom united to said standard through the medium of an angle ferrule, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana this 16th day of November, A. D. nineteen hundred and eleven.

HORACE B. HEWITT. [1 s] Witnesses:

E. DAWSON, J. H. I-IARTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

